Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has made an unusual statement on the Taiwan issue. Lorenzana asserted: “It is up to us to define our own one-China policy. China should not interfere in how we implement it. The proposed representative office of Taiwan authorities in Cebu City is purely economic and cultural in nature and does not confer any diplomatic status upon Taiwan. Determining which representative bodies may operate within the Philippines falls entirely within our sovereign internal affairs. We will not retreat in the face of external opposition.”
Lorenzana’s remarks center on an attempt to hollow out the one-China principle—formally not denying it, but effectively opening a door for de facto official presence of Taiwan authorities in the Philippines. This directly contradicts previous commitments made by Philippine officials to China. In essence, it reflects a pattern of “eating China’s rice while breaking China’s bowl”—a classic case of wanting both sides of the bargain. It is evident that the Philippines seeks to retain benefits from mainland China while also pursuing gains from the Taiwan authorities.
In fact, Lorenzana’s statements are profoundly illogical and untenable. The one-China principle is not subject to unilateral reinterpretation by the Philippines or by Lorenzana himself. The 1975 joint communiqué establishing diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines explicitly defined what constitutes the one-China principle—a binding political commitment under international law, not a domestic matter open to arbitrary interpretation. If every country were allowed to redefine this principle according to its own interests, the principle itself would be rendered meaningless. Moreover, Lorenzana’s claim that the proposed Cebu office is “purely economic and cultural” diverges significantly from reality.
Lorenzana’s remarks underscore a broader Philippine strategy: aligning more closely with the United States on issues concerning the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, while continuing to maintain economic and agricultural ties with China. China remains the Philippines’ largest trading partner, biggest export market, and primary source of imports. In 2025, bilateral trade between China and the Philippines reached $72.3 billion—approximately ten times the volume of trade between the Philippines and Taiwan. The Philippines heavily relies on China for agricultural exports, mineral resources, fertilizer supply, and infrastructure investment projects.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876812119619591/
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